The Brief:

  • A new Des Moines Register poll shows Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump by 3 points in Iowa, sparking criticism from Trump.
  • Trump disputes the poll's accuracy, touting his support for Iowa farmers and referencing other polls that favor him.
  • Pollster Ann Selzer's methodology is widely respected, despite Trump's challenges to her predictions based on past elections.

In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has openly criticized a new poll that places him behind Vice President Kamala Harris in Iowa. According to the recent Des Moines Register survey conducted by esteemed pollster Ann Selzer, Harris leads with a 3-point advantage over Trump, standing at 47% to 44%.

This outcome has sparked controversy and drawn sharp criticism from Trump, who took to his Truth Social platform to voice his discontent, labeling the poll as "heavily skewed" and unjustly biased against him.

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Trump's reaction was swift and vehement. He emphasized his contributions to Iowa, particularly highlighting his support for the agricultural sector. "No President has done more for FARMERS, and the Great State of Iowa, than Donald J. Trump," he asserted. He went on to claim that apart from this one particular survey, other polls consistently show him leading significantly—a testament, in his view, to the mutual admiration between him and Iowa's farmers.

The reliability of Selzer's polls came under scrutiny from Trump. He insinuated that her predictions were misaligned in the past, specifically referring to an unspecified election cycle which many have inferred as the 2020 presidential election. Contrary to Trump's claims of inaccuracies, Selzer's polling prior to the 2020 election accurately predicted Trump's lead over Joe Biden in Iowa by a margin very close to the actual results.

Selzer is highly respected in her field, renowned for her meticulous methodology and historically accurate forecasts. Her reputation is such that Nate Silver, a prominent figure in political analytics, has expressed high regard for her skills in prediction despite occasionally being an outlier.

To bolster his position further, Trump mentioned another recent poll conducted by Emerson that shows him leading Harris by 10 points in Iowa—a result he enthusiastically welcomed.

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This unfolding story reflects not just on political rivalries but also on the complex dynamics of public opinion and its measurement. As debates over polling accuracy continue alongside political campaigns' strategies adapting in real-time to shifting public sentiments, all eyes remain fixed on Iowa as a critical battleground state offering early hints at what might be expected as we move closer to future elections.

What are your thoughts on the accuracy and impact of political polls during election seasons? How much do you think they influence public perception and campaign strategies?

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